Body hair scores and total hair diameters in healthy women in the Kirikkale Region, of Turkey

Abstract

It was aimed to determine the normal hair scores of women of Kirikkale region according to the Ferriman-Gallwey scale and to investigate the relationship between the hair shaft diameter and hair scores. Hair scores were calculated in 204 healthy women, and hair shaft diameters were measured from the hair samples collected from 60 patients. Body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin resistance and blood androgen levels were determined. Neutral, hormonal and total hair scores were 2.1 +/- 1.4, 3.1 +/- 2.7 and 5.2 +/- 3.6, respectively. The average total hair diameter and hormonal hair diameter were 191.93 +/- 90.49 mum and 121.8 +/- 75.9 mum respectively. The correlation between total hair diameter and total hair score was statistically significant (r = 0.704 p < 0.001). Also, the correlation between hormonal hair diameter and hormonal hair score was statistically significant (r = 0.724 p < 0.001). While hair scores and diameters show meaningful positive correlation with androgen levels, they show negative correlation with age. In our population, 95% value of total hair score was 11, and for the hormonal score, it was 9. Hair diameters increase with hair score, regardless of total or hormonal of hair scores. Hair scores and hair diameters may be affected by blood androgens in healthy women.